Insulated mounting for live rails

Abstract

A mounting structure is provided for mounting one or more live rails in a bank of such rails, the mounting structure providing simple means for including additional rails in the bank. The structure comprises a plurality of identical mounting halves, two of which cooperate to mount a single rail. When mounting a rail, the two cooperating halves present cooperating exposed surfaces for the joining of additional mounting halves and rails on each side thereof. Each mounting half includes identical cooperating recesses and projections which when joined together hold a rail in a mounted position. Each half also includes a gripping claw for grasping a single bracing panel or plank for holding an entire bank of mounted rails together.

I claim: 
     
       1. Insulated mountings for live rails, characterized by (a) at least one pair of cooperating identical mounting halves;   (b) each mounting half having a plurality of cooperating primary projections and recesses;   (c) the primary recesses of one half cooperating with the primary projections of the other half to engage a rail base;   (d) said plurality of projections on each mounting half including an upwardly and inwardly extending rail base retainer for extending over one half of a rail base; and   (e) each said mounting half having a plurality of identical secondary projections and secondary recesses on the side thereof opposite said primary projections and recesses for engaging additional mounting halves.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, further characterized by (a) each said primary and secondary projections is a T-shaped structure with opposed abutments extending along the outer edge thereof; and   (b) each said primary and secondary recess is configured to receive said projections in cooperating engagement.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2, further characterized by (a) each said projection is insertable end-wise into its respective cooperating recess.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, further characterized by (a) each said projection is integral with its respective mounting half.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4, further characterized by (a) said primary and secondary recesses on one side of each mounting half extending longitudinally from one end edge to the center thereof; and   (b) said primary and secondary projections on one side of each mounting half extending longitudinally from the end opposite the respective recesses to the center of said mounting half.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by (a) said primary and secondary projections and recesses extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of their respective mounting halves; and   (b) the said longitudinal axis of each mounting half, when positioned on a rail to be supported, being parallel to said rail.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1, further characterized by (a) said primary projections and recesses on one side of each mounting half being displaced vertically from the secondary projections and recesses on the opposite side of each mounting half.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1, further characterized by (a) each said mounting half is comprised of a synthetic elastomer.   
     
     
       9. Insulated mountings for live rails, characterized by (a) at least one pair of cooperating identical mounting halves;   (b) each mounting half having a plurality of cooperating primary projections and recesses;   (c) the primary recesses of one half cooperating with the primary projections of the other half to engage a rail base;   (d) said plurality of projections on each mounting half including an upwardly and inwardly extending rail base retainer for extending over one half of a rail base;   (e) each said mounting half having a plurality of identical secondary projections and secondary recesses on the side thereof opposite said primary projections and recesses for engaging additional mounting halves; and   (f) each mounting half having at least one flexible abutment extending from one end edge.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9, further characterized by (a) each said flexible abutment is in the form of a bar;   (b) each said mounting half includes two flexible abutments extending from one end edge thereof; and   (c) said two flexible abutments at one end of each mounting half being displaced vertically from each other.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, further charcterized by (a) each said flexible abutment extends from the end edge of one of said primary and secondary projections;   (b) each said flexible abutment includes an integral locking extension; and   (c) each said cooperating recess includes a cooperating notch for receiving one of said locking extensions in cooperating engagement.   
     
     
       12. Insulated mountings for live rails, characterized by (a) at least one pair of cooperating identical mounting halves;   (b) each mounting half having a plurality of cooperating primary projections and recesses;   (c) the primary recesses of one half cooperating with the primary projections of the other half to engage a rail base;   (d) said plurality of projections on each mounting half including an upwardly and inwardly extending rail base retainer for extending over one half of a rail base;   (e) each said mounting half having a plurality of identical secondary projections and secondary recesses on the side thereof opposite said primary projections and recesses for engaging additional mounting halves; and   (f) each mounting half including a retaining extension at the bottom thereof opposite said rail base retainer;   (g) a stabilizer panel extending along the bottom of each adjacent mounting half; and   (h) the said retaining extension of each mounting half engaging said stabilizer panel.